Modular environment structuring apparatus

ABSTRACT

A modular environment structuring apparatus including post means, panel means and connector means is disclosed. The connector means is formed with a rigid, high strength, metallic connector portion which is adapted to releasably interlock with a high strength, metallic keyway. The connector portion further includes spacer and load bearing means adapted to space the post and panel from each other. The spacing and the construction of the spacer and load bearing means enables insertion of a load supporting bracket between the post and panel for support of the transverse shear load on said bracket by the spacer and load bearing means of the connector. The connector means is preferably formed as a metallic strip, which may be integrally formed with the panel or embedded in the side rail of a wooden panel, and the metallic strip has connector portions extending outwardly of the strip in aligned and registered relation to keyways formed in a tubular metallic post.

United States Patent Rudin [111 3,871,144 Mar. 18, 1975 1 MODULAR ENVIRONMENT STRUCTURING APPARATUS Melvin Rudin, Los Altos, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Form/Space Corporation, San

Francisco, Calif.

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 401,862

[75] Inventor:

[52] U.S. Cl. 52/36, 52/582 [51] Int. Cl. E04b 2/82 158] Field of Searchmm. 52/36, 241282582585;

156] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,971,805 2/1961 Weiss 52/36 X 3.327.440 6/1967 Watkins 52/582 X 3,694.975 10/1972 Pollock .1 52/36 3713257 1/1973 Beavers... 52/36 3.731.956 5/1973 Hanley 52/582 X Primary E.raminerPrice C. Faw, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Warren, Rubin & Chickering [57] ABSTRACT A modular environment structuring apparatus including post means, panel means and connector means is disclosed. The connector means is formed with a rigid, high strength, metallic connector portion which is adapted to releasably interlock with a high strength, metallic keyway. The connector portion further includes spacer and load bearing means adapted to space the post and panel from each other. The spacing and the construction of the spacer and load bearing means enables insertion of a load supporting bracket between the post and panel for support of the transverse shear load on said bracket by the spacer and load bearing means of the connector. The connector means is preferably lormed as a metallic strip, which may be integrally lOI'lllCtl with the panel or embedded in the side rail or a wooden panel, and the metallic strip has connector portions extending outwardly ol the strip in aligned and registered relation to keyways formed in a tubular metallic post 6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures MODULAR ENVIRONMENT STRUCTURING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years numerous post and panel modular environment structuring systems have been evolved and have gained widespread acceptance, particularly in connection with office landscaping. When a post and panel environment structuring system is to be employed in an office or the like, considerable premium is placed upon the appearance as well as the structural integrity of the system. Thus, it is preferred that the post and panel be connected or secured to each other without an undue number of openings, slots, or bulky visible connectors.

One approach has been to form the posts with channels or tracks into which a connector may be inserted that is adapted to frictionally engage a flange of the channel or track to secure panels, shelves and the like. While adequate for some purposes, such systems often are complicated and expensive to construct, are time consuming to assemble at the site, and do not afford a positive means of relative securement of the modular components.

Another approach which has been employed is to use a plug-in type connector which may be inserted into openings formed in the post and panel. Usually such connectors are collapsible and resiliently expansible (U.S. Pat. No. 3,195,266), or have an element which can be subsequently inserted to effect securement by the plug-in connector (U.S. Pat. No. 3,319,981), or have a plug-in connector which is urged past a projecting element (U.S. Pat. No. 3,129,472).

It has been found that plug-in connector systems have an inherent defect in some applications. Such systems depend upon resiliency of elements so as to enable interengagement of oppositely facing shoulders. The resiliency required to enable urging of one shoulder beyond the other can result in a system in which the loading forces on the components will eventually fatigue the connector or cause it to be pulled out of the socket into which it is mounted. This has been found to be particularly true if any attempt is made to apply a load directly to the connector, such as by a bracket which bears upon the connector instead of being secured directly to a panel or post. With time, the plug-in connectors, which are usually formed of resilient plastics, will creep and become compressed to allow disengagement of the shoulders thereof with oppositely facing shoulders in the connector receiving sockets. Additionally, such plug-in connector systems are often difficult and costly to disassemble.

Another approach which has been employed is to use a post and panel system in which the posts and/or panels are provided with keyways or openings of irregular shape into which a connector may be inserted to enable locking of the components together positively under gravitational forces. Prior systems which have included keyways, however, have attempted to support all loads, including shelves, fixtures, desks, etc., from the keyshaped openings in the posts, and accordingly the posts must be formed with a multiplicity of keyway openings which are unsightly and detract from the appearance of the system.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a modular environment structuring system in which the components can be rapidly and positively secured to each other to produce a very high strength,

positively interlocked system which will not fatigue.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular environment structuring system in which the components maybe positively secured to each other in a compact manner reducing the number of components required and enhancing the overall appearance of the system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a modular environment structuring system which is inexpensive to manufacture, may be easily assembled, may be easily disassembled and is highly durable.

The modular environment structuring apparatus of the present invention has other objects and features of advantage which are set forth in detail hereinafter and will become apparent from the accompanying drawing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The modular environment structuring apparatus of the present invention includes post means, panel means and connector means formed-to secure the post means to the panel means. The improvement of the present invention is comprised, briefly, of a rigid, high strength, metallic connector portion extending from the connector means; a rigid, high strength, metallic keyway formed for relative interlocking interengagement with the connector portion; and the connector portion is further provided with spacer and load bearing means formed to engage the post and panel to hold the same in spaced apart relation and formed for support of loading forces applied by a bracket between the post and panel means for transfer of the forces to the high strength keyway and connector portion. The connector means is preferably formed as a metallic strip with a plurality of connector portions extending therefrom. The spacer and load bearing means is preferably formed as a cylindrical portion on the connector portion with the load supporting brackets having a mating cylindrical recess and stop means which cooperate to secure the bracket to the connector means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an assembled modular environment structuring apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of a bracket for use in the modular environment structuring apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of a post formed with keyways therein and employed in the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view, partially broken away, of a connector strip employed in the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of an assembled post, panel and connector means as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing, the modular environment structuring apparatus of the present invention can be seen to include post means 21, panel means 22 and connector means 23 formed to secure the post means to the panel means. Post, panel and connector systems are well known in the prior art, but in order to provide a modular environment structuring system having very high strength and yet being easily assembled into a variety of configurations and disassembled, the improved system of the present invention includes a keyway 24 which is formed in one of the post and panel means and is here shown as formed in post means 21 (best seen in FIG. 3). Additionally, connector means 23 is formed with a connector portion 26 extending outwardly of the connecting means and carried by the remainder of the post and panel, in this case panel means 22.

Both the keyway and connector portions are formed from rigid, high strength, metallic materials capable of withstanding substantial bearing loads without creep or permanent distortion. Thus, it is preferred that the posts be formed as a tubular member formed from a relatively high strength metal, such as 6063-T6 or 6061-1'6 alloy aluminum, and that the connector portion be formed of a similar material or even more preferably of B l 1 l3 screw machine steel. The shelf brackets, which are described in more detail hereinafter, may be formed of 1018 steel.

As may be seen by comparing FIGS. 3 and 4, connector portion 26 and keyway 24 are formed for relative movement into and out of interengagement and are cooperatively formed to secure the connector portion to the keyway against removal therefrom under loading forces, as will be set forth in more detail hereinafter.

In order to provide for the support of horizontal and other surfaces from the post and panel system without the need of a multiplicity of unsightly keyways and elaborate brackets, connector portion 26 is further provided with spacer and load bearing means 27, preferably in the shape of a cylindrical portion of the outwardly extending connector portion. Spacer and load bearing means 27 is formed to engage post 21 and panel 22 and to hold the post and panel in relatively spaced apart relation adjacent connector portion 26. Thus, as may be seen in FIG. 5, there is a slot or space 28 between post 21 and panel 22 adjacent the connector portion 26, and in this case, over the length of the connection between the post and panel. The spacer and load bearing cylinder portion 27 of the connector is further formed for support of transverse shear loading forces applied thereto by brackets 29, which are inserted between the post and panel. These transverse loading forces are transferred from the spacer and load bearing means to the high strength, metallic keyway 24 in the post and a metallic strip which is anchored in the panel through the anchoring portion of the connector means 23.

To enhance the strength of the modular environment structuring system of the present invention, it is preferable that connector means 23 include a plurality of connector portions 26 and that keyway 24 be provided by a plurality of keyways with the connector portions and keyways being positioned on the post and panel means in relatively aligned and registered relation. In the preferred form, connector portions 26 are mounted to a common metallic strip 31 which is formed for securement to panel 22, as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Connector portions 26 can be staked, riveted or otherwise fastened by means 32 to strip 31 at predetermined intervals along the strip corresponding to the openings providing keyways 24.

In order to provide for interengagement and locking of the connector portions and keyways, the connector portion preferably includes a neck portion 33 dimensioned to pass within the lower slot portion 34 of the keyway. Neck portion 33 has a diameter less than that of the cylindrical spacer and load bearing portion 27 and extends outwardly thereof. Formed outwardly of neck 33 is an enlarged head 36 having a shoulder 37 facing strip 31 and adapted for interengagement with an oppositely facing shoulder 38 in the keyways. The head 36 is dimensioned for passage through the upper circular portion of the keyway. Thus, shoulders 37 and 38 may be brought into interlocking interengagement by advancing the post and panel toward each other until the head is beyond inner wall or shoulder 38 of the post and then align the connector to move downwardly until neck 33 is seated in slot portion 34 of the keyway to lock the post to the panel. The weight of the panel insures gravity biasing of the connector into the slot portion of the keyway. Once in the downwardly moved position, the enlarged head 36 prevents the post and panel from pulling apart unless they are relatively reciprocated which will not occur under normal use and loading.

In order to facilitate the simultaneous insertion and removal of the plural connector portions from the plural keyways, it is preferable to provide chamfers 41 and 42 on the front and rear edges of the head of the connector portions. These chamfers will guide and aid in the alignment of the connector heads with the keyways during insertion into the keyways and during removal therefrom.

The panels employed in the system of the present invention may advantageously be formed with side stile 46 to which a pair of skins 47 and 48 are adhesively or otherwise secured. Interposed between skins 47 and 48 may be a foam material 49 which is light in weight and yet high in strength. Other types of panel constructions are suitable for use in the present invention including solid panels.

When a panel is employed that is constructed with a wooden stile or the like, it is preferable to form connector strip 31 as a U-shaped channel mounted to extend along an edge 51 of the panel with connector portions 26 secured to base 52 of the channel and legs 53 and 54 extending inwardly in slots formed in stile 46. Additionally, the base 52 is preferably mounted in a verti cally extending recess in the edge 51 of the panels so that it is flush with the edge and positions cylindrical spacer and load bearing element 27 to extend outwardly from edge 51. It will be understood that strip 31 also can be integrally formed as the side edge of a panel instead of being embedded in a wooden stile.

In the system of the present invention it is preferred to form brackets 29 with a connector engaging portion 61 adapted for engagement with spacer and load bearing cylindrical portion 27. Connector engaging portion 61 is formed for rotation about cylindrical spacer 27, and bracket 29 is provided with stop means, generally designated 62, which cooperates with connector engaging portion 61 to limit the rotation about the spacer and secure the bracket to the connector. Stop means 62 is provided by a flange to which horizontal surfaces 63 may be supported and secured by means of fasteners positioned through openings 64 in flange 62.

This construction of the bracket in the system of the present invention allows rapid mounting of horizontal surfaces to the vertical post and panel system. Brackets 29 are first secured to horizontal surface 63 at an interval which will enable insertion of the edge 66 of the bracket into space 28 between the post and panel members. The bracket may be tilted upwardly from the horizon slightly to avoid contacting the panels with the back edge 67 of the horizontal surfaces or shelves 63. Once inserted between the post and panel the bracket can be lowered until connector engaging portion 61 bears upon spacer 27. The shelf may then be tilted downwardly causing rotation of the bracket about spacer 27 until the back edge 67 of shelf 63 and flange 62 engage the panel and limit further rotation about the spacer and load bearing portion 27 of the connector.

In order to enable the securement of shelves or horizontal surfaces on both sides of a panel at the same elevation, bracket 29 is further preferably provided with a lower load bearing notch 68 into which a second bracket having a protruding and mating portion can be interlocked.

I claim:

1. In a modular environment structuring apparatus including a tubular metallic post, panel means and connector means formed to secure said post to said panel means, the improvement comprising:

a. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic keyways formed in said post;

b. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic connector portions extending outwardly from a common metallic strip forming said connector means, said metallic strip being carried by said panel means;

c. said connector portions and said keyways being positioned in aligned and registered relation and formed for relative movement into and out of interengagement and being cooperatively formed to se cure said connector portions in said keyways against removal therefrom under normal loading forces; and

d. said connector portions being further provided with spacer and load bearing means formed to engage said post means and said panel means and to hold the same in spaced apart relation adjacent said connector portions, said spacer and load bearing means being further formed for support ofloading forces applied by a bracket inserted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said connector portion and for transfer of said loading forces to said high strength metallic keyways and the remainder of said connector means. 2. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said strip is formed as a U-shaped channel mounted to extend vertically along an edge of said panel with said connector portions being secured to the base of said channel and projecting outwardly of said edge and the legs of said channel extending toward and secured to said panel. 3. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein,

said legs of said U-shaped channel extend into slots in said edge of said panel and said base of said channel is mounted in a recess in said edge of said panel to a depth causing the outside surface of said base to be flush with said edge. 4. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein,

said spacer and load bearing means on each of said connector portions is formed as a cylindrical portion positioned in abutting relation to said strip, and each of said connector portions further includes a neck portion of a diameter less than said cylindrical portion extending outwardly thereof and terminating in an enlarged head portion having a shoulder facing said strip and adapted for interengagement with an oppositely facing shoulder in said keyway. 5. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein,

head portion is chamfered at the front and rear edges thereof. 6. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 and at least one metallic bracket means is mounted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said spacer and load bearing means and adapted for and mounted in engagement with said cylindrical portion, said bracket means being formed with stop means to limit rotation about said cylindrical means, said stop means and said cylindrical portion cooperating to secure said bracket means to said connector means. 

1. In a modular environment structuring apparatus including a tubular metallic post, panel means and connector Means formed to secure said post to said panel means, the improvement comprising: a. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic keyways formed in said post; b. a plurality of rigid, high strength, metallic connector portions extending outwardly from a common metallic strip forming said connector means, said metallic strip being carried by said panel means; c. said connector portions and said keyways being positioned in aligned and registered relation and formed for relative movement into and out of interengagement and being cooperatively formed to secure said connector portions in said keyways against removal therefrom under normal loading forces; and d. said connector portions being further provided with spacer and load bearing means formed to engage said post means and said panel means and to hold the same in spaced apart relation adjacent said connector portions, said spacer and load bearing means being further formed for support of loading forces applied by a bracket inserted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said connector portion and for transfer of said loading forces to said high strength metallic keyways and the remainder of said connector means.
 2. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said strip is formed as a U-shaped channel mounted to extend vertically along an edge of said panel with said connector portions being secured to the base of said channel and projecting outwardly of said edge and the legs of said channel extending toward and secured to said panel.
 3. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein, said legs of said U-shaped channel extend into slots in said edge of said panel and said base of said channel is mounted in a recess in said edge of said panel to a depth causing the outside surface of said base to be flush with said edge.
 4. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein, said spacer and load bearing means on each of said connector portions is formed as a cylindrical portion positioned in abutting relation to said strip, and each of said connector portions further includes a neck portion of a diameter less than said cylindrical portion extending outwardly thereof and terminating in an enlarged head portion having a shoulder facing said strip and adapted for interengagement with an oppositely facing shoulder in said keyway.
 5. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein, head portion is chamfered at the front and rear edges thereof.
 6. The modular environment structuring apparatus as defined in claim 4 and at least one metallic bracket means is mounted between said post means and said panel means adjacent said spacer and load bearing means and adapted for and mounted in engagement with said cylindrical portion, said bracket means being formed with stop means to limit rotation about said cylindrical means, said stop means and said cylindrical portion cooperating to secure said bracket means to said connector means. 